The DermaRoller Dilemma #petuniaskincare

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

If you read my review on the Facial Hair Threading tool, and you took one look at this needle-filled roller, you might think I've switched from skincare to S&M! Trust me, I'm not into pain.  But I am into niche skincare tools and products!

If you're not familiar with Derma Rolling, the idea is to be a physical, at-home version of the fractional laser used for resurfacing skin. Puncturing little holes in the skin is supposed to do two things: create little wounds that allow deeper penetration of skincare products, and encourage collagen creation.

The Petunia Skincare Derma Roller has a rolling head with 540 needles that are made from medical-grade stainless steel, and are 1.5 mm long.  From what I've been reading, this is important for three reasons:

1) the more needles, the less pain.
2) stainless steel is the best material for these needles, used by doctors, acupuncturists, and tattoo artists.
3) needle length matters.  Anything less than 0.5 mm and you're not going deep enough to stimulate collagen production.  Anything 2.0mm or greater, and you'll want a doctor's supervision and numbing cream.

When using a derma roller, you want to avoid going over the same holes, which is why this 'star' pattern is recommended.  The idea is to create just enough damage to jumpstart collagen production, not to create inflammation or pain.  Shorter needles can be used more often, but with these 1.5mm needles, you want to limit use on the face to once every 3-4 weeks, and on the body, once every 2-3 weeks.

You also want to avoid areas that are already irritated by things like rosacea, or areas with bacterial infections, like active acne.  Because you're punching holes in the skin, it's important to keep the roller needles and the area clean so that you're not just spreading bacteria everywhere, and under the skin.

My personal preference is to apply oil to the skin first, and then use the derma roller on top.  I've been using a roller with smaller needles on my body for months now, and I don't like the sensation of the dry needles, but enjoy the light pricking of the lubricated needles, especially on my back and legs where there are fewer nerve endings.  I haven't had any negative side effects from using a derma roller on my body.

I tried this roller dry on my face, and I found the same thing to be true.  Having an oil or favorite serum on the skin first lubricates the needles.  After rolling, my skin was a little reddened and tender for maybe 30 minutes.  It's recommended to do this at night, and not wear makeup after rolling the skin.  There is some controversy about what serum or lotion to apply with derma rolling, as you are increasing the depth of penetration of it.  Some ingredients work better on top of the skin, and some ingredients, like parabens, are probably not something you want below the skin surface. 

My nailart today is a little tongue-in-cheek homage to the spiky roller! I used a base of Sephora X Alchemy, a gorgeous rose-gold glitter, with a stripe of A England A Crown of Thistles, a beautiful purple.  A few metal spike studs completes the look! I'm my own dermaroller!

For more information, or to purchase the Petunia Derma Roller, you can find them on Amazon, where this roller is currently retailing for $18.77. They offer a 90-day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied.